In his talk at the Distinguished Speaker’s Forum hosted by the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, the chief justice of India highlighted the pivotal role of public trust in the judiciary yesterday. He said that a functional legal system relies on the independence of the courts and also the confidence people have on the judiciary.
Speaking on the topic, “Enhancing Judicial Accountability and Public Trust: Leveraging Transparency and Technology,” Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, said that while courts must remain independent from public opinion, they still need the trust and confidence of the people.
“Public trust is central to the credibility of the judicial branch, which is otherwise insulated from public opinion in its operations. As it must be, as judges we have to be insulated to retain our independence. But equally, just as we are insulated from the popular opinions of the day, we must have our bearings in public trust and confidence.”
He also talked about the crucial role of transparency in combating misinformation, noting that clear and accessible information from the courts is vital for maintaining public trust.
“Institutional trust is determined by the experience of individuals. The language of the law and courts, distance between the litigants and the courts and familiarity or the lack of familiarity of court processes are important determinants of the accessibility of our courts to the people. Linguistic differences, physical inaccessibility and complex procedures often exercise an alienating influence on the people and erode public trust.”
Additionally, he pointed out how people’s trust in the legal system is influenced by their personal experiences with courts, such as the ease of understanding legal processes and how fairly cases are handled.
The forum was attended by more than 300 participants, including officials, lawyers, and students among others.
Bidhya Rai, a student of Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law said “I feel that public trust is not just confined to public opinion alone, it is also how the judiciary and the legal system uphold justice and bring fairness and reasonableness in their decisions. From the talk by the Chief Justice of India, we are not only immensely inspired, but we were also motivated to uphold justice, not only in Bhutan but as a part of the legal fraternity today.”
Lodray Jamtsho, another student said “It is a good opportunity for us law students to get some inspiration as the Chief Justice of India himself has come here. We gained a lot of knowledge through his advice. As the judiciary serves the people, it is important to gain public trust.”
According to officials, the Distinguished Speaker’s Forum is a key event for JSW School of Law, which provides a platform for discussing important legal issues and building trust in the legal system.
Sonam Tshering, Associate Dean of Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law said “The main reason for organising this event is to understand the legal system in other countries. This event will benefit our people and lawyers.”
This is the second edition of forum, which was initiated last year.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Kipchu
